Product Field NotesLavender Plants
Bleu de Collins Lavender: A Big Lavandin for Wands, Oil and Rows
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Bleu de Collins lavender is a lavandin built on a generous scale. It grows into a broad, spreading mound of gray-green foliage and sends up long, sturdy stems tipped with deep purple buds and flowers, all at once, in midsummer. If you have ever wanted an armload of lavender in one cut, this is the plant that hands it to you.
As a Lavandula × intermedia, it is a cross between English lavender and spike lavender. That parentage gives it size, vigor and the strong, classic lavandin fragrance that people recognize from sachets and soaps.
Bleu de Collins at a glance
| Trait | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Botanical name | Lavandula × intermedia 'Bleu de Collins' |
| Flower color | Deep purple buds and flowers |
| Foliage | Gray-green and aromatic |
| Mature size | About 36 inches tall and 42 inches wide |
| Stems | Long and sturdy, roughly 12 to 16 inches |
| Bloom | Mid-July, one main flush with little rebloom |
| Hardiness | USDA zones 5a to 9b |
| Fragrance | Strong, classic lavandin |
| Best uses | Essential oil, drying, fresh bouquets, wands, crafts, farm plantings |
Where it earns its space
Bleu de Collins is rated excellent for cut flowers, dried flowers, oil and commercial field planting, and its stems are long enough to weave into lavender wands. That combination makes it a natural pick for growers who want a production row, a hedge along a sunny drive or a backbone plant at the back of a large border.
It is also a strong pollinator plant. When the whole mound opens in July, expect bees to crowd it like a lunch counter at noon. Deer tend to leave it alone, which helps in open country gardens.
One honest note: this is not a plant for a small pot or a tight corner. Its spreading habit needs room, and crowding it only invites wet foliage and poor airflow.
Planting for a long life
Choose a site with full sun and soil that drains within minutes after a heavy rain. Sandy loam, gravelly ground or a raised bed all work. In heavy clay, build up the planting area rather than digging a hole that collects water, because soggy roots in winter are what usually take lavender down.
Space plants roughly at their mature width, about 3 to 4 feet apart in a single row, and set the crown level with the soil. Water deeply at planting and keep mulch, compost and wet leaves away from the woody base. Like other lavandins, it needs a cold winter to set its best bloom, which suits Michigan just fine.
Check your timing with the USDA Zone Finder and the Frost Date Estimator.
Care through the seasons
- Spring: wait for new gray-green growth before tidying. Remove only clearly dead tips.
- First summer: water deeply when the top few inches of soil are dry. Plugs need more frequent checks than gallon plants.
- Established plants: water needs are low. Skip the fertilizer; rich soil makes floppy stems.
- After harvest: shape the mound by cutting back into leafy growth, never into bare old wood. The Pruning Calendar shows when.
- Humid spells: good spacing and airflow matter most, since it prefers low to moderate humidity.
Harvesting for wands, bundles and oil
For dried bundles, cut on a dry morning when the buds are fully colored and only a few flowers have opened. Hang bunches upside down in a shaded, airy spot. For wands, cut stems while they are still pliable, before the flowers fully open, so the stems bend without snapping.
On flavor: lavandins tend to taste stronger and more camphor-forward than English lavender. Bleu de Collins carries a good culinary rating, but most cooks will find English types gentler, so think of this one mainly as a fragrance and craft plant. The Harvest Calendar can help you plan cutting days.
Formats offered
Bleu de Collins is listed as a 3-inch plug, a 4-inch pot or a 1-gallon pot. Plugs are the economical way to plant a long row; gallon plants give a fuller look in the first season. See the product page for current sizes and availability, and if it is not ready yet, set an alert from the product page or the Availability Alerts page.
Frequently asked questions
Is Bleu de Collins English lavender?
No. It is a lavandin, a hybrid of English and spike lavender. Lavandins are larger, bloom a bit later and carry a stronger, more camphor-forward scent.
Will it rebloom after I cut it?
Expect one main flush in mid-July with little rebloom. Plan your harvest around that single strong show.
How many plants do I need for a hedge?
Measure the length of the row and divide by about 3.5 feet, the mature width. Wider spacing keeps air moving and plants healthier.
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